Interview process prompts concern from board members
October 23rd, 2008Sibley East school board member Anne Karl voiced concern Monday about the interview process used in the recent hiring of an assistant wrestling coach.
An emergency meeting of the Sibley East Board of Education earlier this month changed the make up of a committee set to interview for coaching positions.
Senior High principal Jim Amsden, athletic director Randy Walsh, and head coaches of respective sports were to be part of the interview committee. However, due to the emergency school board meeting, only Walsh and head wrestling coach Rod Tollefson were involved in the interviews for the assistant wrestling coach position. Tollefson’s son, Ben, was hired for the position. There was one other candidate.
Karl said she received a telephone call about the interview process. That person who called did not question the qualifications of Ben Tollefson, Karl explained.
“If I was the other candidate, I would be upset,” school board member Scott Dose added.
Sibley East does not have policy for interviewing family members. There is also not a conflict of interest policy — only for school board members.
Superintendent John Langenbrunner said that the incident will be noted and Sibley East will try to make improvements.
In other business, the Board of Education:
• Hired Doug Flieth as assistant golf coach, Susan E. Johnson-Schmitt as custodian at Gaylord, Sue McCarthy as a Title I para professional, and Marilyn Wills as a food service worker at Gaylord.
• Accepted the resignations of Doug Flieth as assistant varsity baseball coach and Maria Rojas as elementary ESL.
• Approved the teacher’s seniority list for 2008-2009.
